A method is disclosed for controlling overall transmission ratios in a vehicle powertrain with an engine, fixed multiple-ratio gearing and infinitely variable ratio components. For a given vehicle speed and for a given vehicle traction wheel horsepower, the fixed multiple-ratio gearing and the infinitely variable ratio components are controlled to operate with an overall ratio that will permit the engine to operate with optimum efficiency.
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1. A method for controlling a power transmission in a powertrain for a wheeled vehicle, the powertrain having an engine and the transmission having dual power delivery paths from the engine to vehicle traction wheels, one power delivery path being defined by multiple fixed-ratio gearing and the other power delivery path being defined by infinitely variable ratio elements;
the method comprising the steps of:
calibrating a first relationship of powertrain variables comprising engine speed and engine power that will achieve an optimum engine efficiency for a given engine power demand and for a given engine speed, the engine efficiency decreasing when engine speed increases for the given engine power;
calibrating a second relationship of powertrain variables comprising overall powertrain efficiency and vehicle speed for each of multiple gear ratios for the transmission;
determining horsepower at the traction wheels for each of several engine speeds using the calibrated first and second relationships of powertrain variables;
selecting an engine speed that corresponds to optimum engine efficiency; and
selecting a gear ratio and a ratio for the infinitely variable ratio elements for a given demand for power at the traction wheels whereby the engine operates at the selected engine speed.
2. The method set forth in
3. The method set forth in
calculating vehicle speed in a next gear relative to the current gear speed;
calculating driveline efficiency at a desired engine speed and at an actual vehicle speed for a current gear, the driveline efficiency being a function of power through the fixed-ratio gearing and through the infinitely variable ratio elements;
calculating powertrain efficiency for a desired engine speed and predicted vehicle speeds for adjacent gear ratios higher and lower than a current ratio;
determining powertrain efficiency for each adjacent gear ratio; and
selecting the gear ratio associated with each of the determined powertrain efficiencies that is highest.
4. The method set forth in
calculating vehicle speed in a next gear relative to the current gear speed;
calculating driveline efficiency at a desired engine speed and at an actual vehicle speed for a current gear, the driveline efficiency being a function of power through the fixed-ratio gearing and through the infinitely variable ratio elements;
calculating powertrain efficiency for a desired engine speed and predicted vehicle speeds for adjacent gear ratios higher and lower than a current ratio;
determining powertrain efficiency for each adjacent gear ratio; and
selecting the gear ratio associated with each of the determined powertrain efficiencies that is highest.
5. The method set forth in
6. The method set forth in
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the control of a transmission in a vehicle powertrain having a step ratio power flow path and an infinitely variable ratio power flow path.
2. Background Art
An example of a vehicle powertrain having fixed ratio gearing and continuously variable torque delivery features is disclosed in U.S. Patent publication US2004/0127321, published Jul. 1, 2004. Another example is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/318,656, filed Dec. 27, 2005. The patent application corresponding to this patent application publication and the co-pending '656 patent application are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosures are both incorporated herein by reference and complement the present disclosure.
A typical step ratio transmission in a vehicle powertrain will allow a limited number of engine speeds for a given output shaft speed. The number of engine speeds that are available depends upon the number of gear ratios, which are fixed by a design choice. In contrast, a transmission of the type disclosed in the aforementioned earlier disclosures will allow a large number of engine speeds for a given output shaft speed due to the infinitely variable ratio feature.
A control strategy for achieving an optimum engine speed for maximum engine efficiency for a conventional step ratio transmission is not adaptable to a control strategy for achieving optimum engine speed for a given output shaft speed for an infinitely variable transmission. A transmission having infinitely variable characteristics as well as step ratio gearing, therefore, requires a more complex control strategy to optimize engine speed for maximum efficiency. Provision of such a control strategy is an objective of the invention.
The present invention comprises a method to achieve steady-state engine speed optimization for maximum engine efficiency in a transmission having a section with fixed, multiple ratio gearing and a section with infinitely variable ratio characteristics wherein power flow from the engine to a power output shaft has a divided power flow path. For a given output shaft speed and a given output shaft horsepower, the strategy of the present invention will set the engine speed so that the engine efficiency is at or near a maximum value. For a given output shaft horsepower, the engine will consume a least amount of fuel for a unit of time. The strategy will adjust the engine speed by controlling the ratio of the infinitely variable transmission section. Hereinafter, the infinitely variable transmission section will be referred to as a “variator.”
Overall powertrain efficiency is affected by transmission efficiency and engine efficiency. Transmission efficiency for a fixed ratio transmission is high and substantially unchanged throughout a given engine speed range. Therefore, its effect on optimization of fuel consumption essentially can be ignored. In the case of the transmission of the present invention, however, transmission efficiency cannot be ignored since it is a complex function of engine shaft speed, engine input shaft torque, gear ratio of step ratio gearing and variator ratio. Engine efficiency for a given engine in a group of engines of similar design also may vary.
The invention comprises a method that includes the step of analyzing an engine efficiency map, created off-line, that quantifies a relationship between engine power and engine speed and the effect of these variables on fuel consumption for any given engine speed and engine power. This data can be recorded in a table stored in a ROM portion of a microprocessor controller for the engine. A relationship then is developed between road speed and overall powertrain efficiency for each gear ratio of the step ratio transmission. Each value of horsepower at the power output shaft for the transmission and the corresponding engine speed are data used as variables in the development of a look-up table from which overall powertrain operating efficiency can be determined. The best overall operating efficiency then can be correlated with an engine speed. Using that information and using output shaft speed information from a conventional speed sensor, a transmission ratio can be determined. A torque demand by the operator, which can be determined based upon engine speed and horsepower demand by the driver, together with variator input speed, can be used to determine the correct gear ratio of the fixed ratio gearing and the variator ratio that together will cause the overall powertrain efficiency to be at an optimum value.
Frequent ratio changes at the variator, which usually is referred to as variator slew, can be minimized by determining maximum and minimum values for the variator ratio that will achieve optimum overall powertrain efficiency. The maximum and minimum variator ratios are calibrated operating range ratios for the variator that will result in minimal overall powertrain efficiency change. This feature avoids undesirable hunting of the engine speed above and below the best engine speed for optimum efficiency while reducing frequency of variator slew.
An example of a vehicle powertrain with a step ratio transmission and a variator with continuously variable ratio characteristics is illustrated in
Another example of a powertrain that can embody the present invention is described in U.S. Patent Publication US-2004/0127321, published Jul. 1, 2004. Still another example is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/318,656, filed Dec. 27, 2005.
The powertrain engine is shown in
A multiple-speed transmission and range gearing is diagrammatically shown at 24. A transmission control unit 26 is electronically coupled to a range gearbox controller 28.
A planetary gear unit 30, sometimes referred to as a power mixer, includes a ring gear 32 connected drivably to power input shaft 14. A sun gear 34 for planetary gear unit 30 engages planet pinions 36 supported on a carrier 38, which is drivably connected to range gearbox input shaft 40. An input shaft speed sensor 42 develops a speed signal that is distributed to a vehicle system controller 44. Likewise, an engine speed sensor 46 develops an engine speed signal that is distributed to the vehicle system controller 44.
The planetary gearing shown at 30 in
The carrier torque is equal to:
Although a specific planetary gear arrangement is disclosed, other split torque or power mixer gear arrangements could be used. Such gear arrangements would not include a torque reaction element. They would function as power dividers.
A power output shaft 48 for the range gear box 24 is drivably connected in the usual fashion to vehicle traction wheels 51. The speed of the power output shaft 48, which is a measure of vehicle speed, is measured by a wheel speed sensor 52 and distributed to the vehicle system controller 44. Other powertrain variables also are distributed to the vehicle system controller, including the previously described pedal position sensor signal output at 22.
A variator assembly with adjustable sheaves is shown at 49. Power input adjustable sheave 50 and power output adjustable sheave 52 are drivably connected by a belt or chain 54. Power output sheave 52 is connected to sun gear 34 through speed-down gearing. The effective pitch diameter of the sheave 50 can be varied by a sheave actuator 56, and the effective pitch diameter of adjustable sheave 52 can be adjusted by sheave actuator 58. Both sheave actuators are under the control of a hydraulic pump and pump hydraulic controller. As the spacing between the disks of the sheave 50 is decreased, a simultaneous increase occurs in the effective pitch diameter of sheave 52, and vice versa.
The vehicle system controller has input signal conditioning ports that receive control signals, including variator input speed (Nv), pedal position sensor input (Ppos), wheel speed (ωwheel), engine speed (Ne) and transmission input speed (Ninput). A ROM memory portion stores data of the kind shown in
The most efficient engine speed for a given engine power is illustrated in
The family of lines identified generally by reference numeral 66 represent constant efficiency lines for various values of engine power and engine speed. If engine speed for any given engine power should increase from a value different than the value represented by line 60, the engine will operate at efficiency levels that progressively decrease. For example, if the engine power is 400 HP and the engine speed should increase to about 1650 RPM, the engine operating efficiency would be approximately 205 grams per HP per second. The efficiency would decrease progressively as the engine speed increases for a given engine power. In creating the plot of
The plot of
As shown in
Plots corresponding to plots 68 and 70 are made also for third gear and fourth gear, as shown at 78 and 80, respectively. A decision zone between end points 82 and 84 of the plots for second gear and third gear is provided, as in the case of the decision zone between points 74 and 76. A decision zone for second gear and third gear includes a wider range of road speeds than in the case of the decision zone between points 74 and 76.
A decision zone corresponding to the plot for third gear and fourth gear also is provided. The road speeds included between the end points for the plots for third gear and fourth gear includes a still larger road speed spread than in the case of the decision zone for the plots for second gear and third gear.
At the decision zones illustrated in
The efficiency of the engine depends upon the operating point for the engine and the characteristic engine torque and engine speed relationship. In a similar fashion, the efficiency of the variator portion of the power flow path will change as the variator ratio changes. There will be a characteristic efficiency and variator ratio characteristic for the powertrain for each gear ratio in the step ratio transmission. This is demonstrated in the plot of
The plot of
As indicated in the following table, various engine speeds will be associated with different efficiencies for a given wheel horsepower and road speed. The efficiencies corresponding to each engine speed selected in this fashion are indicated, by way of example, in this table. An engine speed between 1400 and 1500 RPM, in the example illustrated in the following table, is the best engine speed for optimum powertrain efficiency, expressed as grams of fuel per horsepower per second.
Engine Speed (RPM)
Overall Efficiency (G/HP/S)
1100
215
1200
210
1300
209
1400
205
1500
215
1600
230
The engine speed at 92 is combined with driver horsepower command at 90 by a multiplier/divider action block 104 to develop a torque demand at the wheels, as shown at 106.
The information in action block 100 is the information indicated in the table of
As previously explained, there will be minimum variation in optimum efficiency when the variator ratio changes in a relatively flat region of the variator performance curve. Thus, the CVT ratio output at 110 is represented by maximum and minimum variator ratio values. It is only when the variator ratio values exceed or is less than the range of values indicated at 110 that the variator will slew from one position to another. This will reduce the frequency of movement of the variator sheaves as slight changes in torque demand occur. The frequency of the slewing of the variator could be reduced also by providing a minimum and a maximum engine speed at 92, rather than a single engine speed. This would be feasible if the engine speed falls on a relatively flat portion of the characteristic plot of engine speed and torque. In this fashion, a desirable so called hysteresis effect is introduced.
Although an embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents thereof are intended to be covered by the following claims.
McKenzie, Ian Daniel, Jacobs, Craig Steven
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